The Twelve Songs of Christmas: 2nd Trombone: Choral SoundPax
A Medley of Seasonal Favorites
Arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PC-0015631_TN2
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Description
The perfect Christmas piece: a 6 1/2 minute medley of twelve of the most popular holiday favorites from, "Silent Night" to the rousing finale of the "Hallelujah Chorus" (sure to bring your audience to its feet). Great for ANY choir. The optional instrumental accompaniment is quite effective and simple to add (or use the SoundTrax). InstruPax includes: director's score, 2 trumpets, 2 clarinets, trombone I [opt. alto sax], trombone II, percussion.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Twelve Songs of Christmas: 2nd Trombone: Choral SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
32
SKU:
00-PC-0015631_TN2
Instrumentation:
2 trumpets, 2 clarinets, trombone I [opt. alto sax], trombone II, percussion, score
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse studied music education and music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His career in educational music publishing included eight years as a rights and licenses administrator and a term on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, Althouse has created more than 800 choral works performed across the English-speaking world and maintains membership in ASCAP, regularly receiving their Special Award for composition.
Beyond his output as a composer, Althouse has shaped choral pedagogy through co-authored resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, as well as classroom tools such as Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. He has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals and vocal collections, most notably co-writing I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and resides in North Carolina.
Why we love this
Althouse knows how to make ensemble arrangements work on stage: the architecture of this medley builds energy across twelve carols and lands on the Hallelujah Chorus as a guaranteed showstopper. The optional instrumental parts are genuinely useful rather than decorative, enriching the sound without demanding extensive rehearsal time. Any choir, regardless of experience level, can deliver a polished, emotionally resonant performance that leaves audiences moved.
What to expect
The medley unfolds like a musical journey through beloved carols, moving from quiet reflection in "Silent Night" toward exultation. The steady accumulation of familiar melodies creates both comfort and anticipation, culminating in the triumphant energy of the Hallelujah Chorus that charges the room with celebration.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs of any training level, from community and school ensembles to collegiate groups seeking an accessible yet impressive holiday offering. Directors appreciate its flexibility: perform it unaccompanied, with recorded tracks, or with live instrumentalists depending on available resources and venue.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the transparency of solo or small-group carols early in the medley with the full harmonic richness of the big finale; this contrast makes the build to the Hallelujah Chorus feel purposeful.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse with it consistently so singers internalize its pacing and harmonic support rather than fighting against it in performance.
- When adding instrumental parts, rehearse the choir separately first, then integrate instruments gradually so the added color enhances rather than obscures the vocal lines.
- Shape phrase endings cleanly across the medley transitions; crisp cutoffs and immediate attacks into the next carol keep momentum alive and prevent the piece from feeling like a collection of fragments.
How to use it
Anchor your holiday concert finale with this piece; its climactic structure and audience recognition make it a natural closer that sends listeners home in a festive mood. Alternatively, program it midconcert as a shift from more serious repertoire into lighter seasonal fare, letting its accessibility serve as a bridge for mixed-experience choirs sharing a bill.
Skills your students will build
- Singing connected melodic phrases across medley transitions
- Balancing solo or ensemble passages within a larger choral texture
- Responding to dynamic shifts and tempo changes across multiple carol sections
- Coordinating with recorded accompaniment and optional instrumental parts